Whoever thought this scaredy-cat from Arlington, Va., would swim with whale sharks off Cancun?

Or photograph wild polar bears in Churchill, Canada?

Or chase penguins up glacier trails in Antarctica?

My favorite travel experience of this decade: receiving a sacred blessing from a wise Mayan Shaman in a Mexican village, then meeting him again the next year on the same street in the same village and receiving a second blessing.

Is that luck or divine intervention?

Anyway, time hurtles forward. I sadly waved goodbye to my 50s and hello to 60.

What I wanted for my birthday was a romantic evening at Charleston Place in Charleston and dinner out with my fiance Kenny Baker and close friends.

Kenny and I waltzed into the elegant lobby. “Welcome and Happy Birthday,” smiled a beautiful receptionist named Colleen.

“You two are in 4G, a beautiful suite near our spa and indoor pool.

We invite you to enjoy cocktails, appetizers and breakfast tomorrow morning at our club lounge.”

Is that luck or divine intervention?

Suite 4G was awash in soothing buttercream yellow, with a comfy couch, dining room table, antique writing desk and an inviting king bed.

Serious mistake. After splashing and laughing in the saltwater pool for an hour, gazing at Charleston’s rosy skyline from the outdoor terrace, then soaking in the hot tub, we padded back to our room in thick terry robes, so relaxed we could barely open the door.

The thoughtful hotel staff had delivered a bottle of Segura Viudas Sparkling wine and a decadent chocolate cake emblazoned with “Happy Birthday Sharon.”

Charleston’s evening air wafted in, perfuming our heavenly room. Our friends called to cancel dinner out, promising to meet us the next day at the hotel for lunch.

We kept on drinking, talking and laughing. Never went to dinner.

Never left our room. Perfect evening.

Touring Charleston

There’s so much to see in historic Charleston, you need at least a week.

Settled in 1670 by English colonists on land granted by King Charles II Charles Towne became a flourishing seaport.

By the early 1800s, it was one of the most fashionable cities in the new world, second in importance only to New York.

Today, visitors wander through neighborhoods of antebellum homes, or listen to history from guides in horse drawn carriages clip clopping on cobblestoned streets.

The Battery is a fine place to photograph harbor views and ancient live oak trees framing stately homes. Many of the homes are open for tours, like the Calhoun Mansion, a 24,000 square foot beauty built by George Walton Williams in 1876, resplendent with a 75-foot ceiling, and a ballroom where the glass skylight is 45-feet high.

Other homes with stunning architecture are the Edmonston-Alston House and the Nathaniel Russell House. The Joseph Manigault House and the Heyward-Washington House are equally stunning as well. The churches are intriguing too, including St. Philip’s, St. Michael’s and the French Huguenot Church.

Take a boat out to Fort Sumter, which was occupied by Union troops when South Carolina seceded from the Union,and learn how Charleston witnessed the first shots of the Civil War in 1861.

The pampering

After a day of touring this charming beautiful city, recharge like we did in Charleston Place’s pool and hot tub, or nap on the outdoor garden terrace. Or reward yourself with a spa treatment like Luxe 24 Karat Gold Facial or Champagne of the Sea Pedicure.

Ken and I decided on culinary pampering, so we made reservations for lunch at the chic airy Palmetto Café. The menu looked so tempting, with dishes like Seafood Tacos, Crab/Avocado salad and Strawberry Sangria….

We arrived at 12:30 for our romantic lunch. Two dozen of my favorite Charleston friends and family were there to sing “Happy Birthday.” My darling Ken had organized a wonderful party and what better place than Charleston Place Hotel.

You just never know if all the wonderful serendipity in your life is because of luck or divine intervention. I think it’s both.

Copyright 2013 - Sharon Spence Lieb

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